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Home arrow Digestive System arrow Constipation, Diarrhea, and Gas arrow Natural Constipation Med Gets Press
Natural Constipation Med Gets Press

There seems to be a growing number of probiotic products being marketed to improve intestinal health and relieve constipation. Probiotics are the ‘good’ organisms that naturally live in the intestines. They help keep the ‘bad’ bacteria in check, helping to maintain proper intestinal health in the process. Examples of probiotics include Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria. Many experts believe that a lot of our intestinal ailments occur because the ‘good’ organisms in our intestines get depleted. There is also evidence to suggest that probiotics may stimulate our immune systems, helping us fight off some infectious diseases like respiratory infections.


Indeed, certain probiotics have shown some benefit in treating diarrhea, constipation, ulcerative colitis and even respiratory tract infections. Probiotics are typically considered as ‘safe’ for most people, however, it is generally recommended that immunocompromised people avoid probiotics.


Probiotics should not be confused with PREbiotics. Prebiotics are special sugars that encourage the growth of good bacteria in the intestines. Prebiotics are found naturally in many foods (i.e. chicory root) or they can be synthesized. According to the International Foods information Council (IFIC), examples of prebiotics include  inulin, fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS), Polydextrose, Arabinogalactan, Polyols, lactulose and  lactitol.  Foods that naturally contain prebiotics include whole grains, onions, bananas, garlic, honey, leeks and artichokes.


So how does one incorporate PRObiotics into the diet? Yogurt can be a source of probiotics but one must read the food label carefully. Choosing products with the National Yogurt Association’s “Live and Active Cultures” seal on the label is a good way to ensure the product contains the probiotics needed. Some sources suggest eating 8 oz. of yogurt twice daily when taking antibiotics to prevent diarrhea.


There are also a variety of brands of probiotics supplements to choose from. Culturelle (Lactobacillus GG), DanActive (Lactobacillus/Strep thermophilus), or Florastor (Saccharomyces boulardii) may also help with symptoms of antibiotic-related diarrhea.  Culturelle (Lactobacillus GG) or Florastor (Saccharomyces boulardii) may be used to help prevent traveler’s diarrhea by taking them a few days before traveling and continuing to take them throughout the trip. A product called VSL#3 is a medical food that may be useful for the treatment of ulcerative colitis and irritable bowel syndrome.

 

Align (Bifidobacterium infantis) is also used to treat the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. As far as relieving constipation, Activia (Bifidobacterium) and Yakult (Lactobacillus casei) may be helpful. The combination of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium  may help decrease the symptoms of respiratory infections, however, the product containing this combination may not be available until 2010. More research may also be needed to confirm the benefits of probiotics with respiratory infections. Before beginning to take a probiotic containing product on a regular basis, it is important to ask your physician to make sure it will not interfere with any medications you are taking or illnesses you may have.

 

Author: Christi Larson, Pharm. D.

Dr. Larson is a pharmacist, author of Empowered Medicine; A Guide for Consumers and creator of Empowered Medicine. You can read more about her by visiting www.EmpoweredMedicine.com and clicking on the 'About Us' tab.  EmpoweredMedicine.com is committed to providing evidence-based medical information from a pharmacist's point of view.